Term 3 Results Reflection

I have done better than last term but its still not that good yet. I guess I just have to try harder in the EOY exams. Hope I do well, I really do not wish for a repeat of  Term 2. I was really upset!

Term 2 Results Reflection

I am even more disappointed in this term's results than term 1. This is as my results disimproved while my whole class has improved. I have never felt so much determination to do well since PSLE.

Term 1 Results Reflection

I feel that my results were relatively poor this year as I had not studied hard for it. I only started preparing the day before. Also, the fact that I had not much idea of what to study was probably a big factor. All in all, I am rather disappointed with my term 1 science results.

Plasma

This is a report I did for my ACE which tells us more about this fourth state of matter :


Introduction
Plasma is the fourth state of matter and is basically an ionized gas which has properties that are unlike those of solids, liquids or gases. Thus, most people consider it a new state of matter. Plasma was first discovered by Sir William Crookes in 1879 but he did not identify it as a fourth state of matter. Subsequently in 1897, Sir J.J. Thomson discovered the nature of Crookes’s discovery as a new state of matter. Finally, it was dubbed "plasma" by Irving Langmuir, who most people consider as the man that discovered plasma, in 1928.
Differences from other states of matter

1.    Molecular level

·         Solids molecules can only vibrate in place in a relatively slow motion

·         Liquid molecules can slide over each other and move around faster than solid molecules and the space between the molecules also increase

·         Gas molecules move much faster than liquid molecules and they can move all over the place in a random motion

·         The molecules in a plasma are even faster than gas so much so that they come apart and the nuclei are separated from the electrons

2.    Properties

Ø  Density

·         Solids generally have the highest densities

·         Liquids generally have lower densities than solids

·         Gases generally have even lower densities than liquids

·         Plasmas generally have the lowest densities

Ø  Shape and volume

·         Solids have a definite shape and volume

·         Liquids have no definite shape but instead takes the shape of its container, and they have a definite volume

·         Gases have no definite shape and volume, thus it will take the complete shape of its container

·         Plasma is similar to gas in this area

Ø  *Temperature

·         Solids are generally cooler

·         Liquids are generally warm

·         Gases are generally hotter

·         Plasmas are generally the hottest amongst the four

*The differences in temperature can be linked with the differences on a molecular level as the hotter the matter, the faster the movement of the molecules
*Although plasmas are generally the hottest, there is a type of plasma called ultra cold plasma (not to be confused with cold plasma) which are even cooler than most solids however these are only the minority and are man made through experiments
Examples of plasma
There are not many types of plasma on Earth but there are a few that are quite common such as fluorescent lights and neon signs. Unlike normal light bulbs, fluorescent lights they do not have filament in them but instead, they are filled with gases that get ionized and turn to plasma when the light is switched on and the electricity flows through it. Neon signs follow the same concept. They are also used in the making of plasma TVs. The Sun, the stars and even lightning are all examples of plasma. Although there are few types of plasma on Earth, about 99% of the matter in our universe is in the plasma state.


This is a picture of plasma

This is a picture explaining how the neon lights work

The Acid Sea

This is an article I read in the National Geographic Magazine about Carbon Dioxide, and strangely enough, it is about the sea and not the oh so famous Global Warming. Anyway, it all begins at Castello Aragonese. The sea around island, thanks to some "quirks of geology" as the magazine puts it shows us what the sea would probably look like in the 2050s and beyond, and its not pretty. Almost every single living organism was absent, snails, corals, sea urchins, barnacles, all gone. All that remained were sea grass, jellyfish and algae. And I almost forgot, Carbon Dioxide bubbles that steamed up from the sea floor. The cause of all this, is Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Dioxide dissolves in the sea to form carbonic acid, after all, we drink it all the time in carbonated beverages like coke. However, if enough of it forms, it is enough to make sea water corrosive. Furthermore, when you get it to an extremely high level, almost nothing besides jellyfish, sea grass and algae can stand it. Over the past 2 centuries, the oceans have absorbed 30% of the Carbon Dioxide released by us. This may be a good thing for us as every ton of Carbon Dioxide the sea absorbs, is every ton of Carbon Dioxide that is not contributing to Global Warming but as for the aquatic life on Earth, it is quite a different story. However, this does not mean that we get off Scot-free, after all, this would affect the availability of certain nutrients provided by aquatic food like iron and nitrogen. All in all, this is a new problem that not many are aware of yet and needs to be taken more seriously. After all, Global Warming is not the only big problem we should be worried about.

This is a picture of what the ocean floor looks like now

This is a picture of what the ocean floor is expected to look like in 2100

Diffusion and Osmosis

Diffusion is the net movement of particles from a region where they are at a higher concentration to region where they are at a lower concentration. ( Definition from notes )
Osmosis is a special type of diffusion, it is the diffusion of water molecules through a semipermeable membrane. So basically, if it is not water that is being diffused and there is no semipermeable membrane, then it is not diffusion.
This is one of those topics that I really had no idea existed until I was taught. Thus, when the teacher asked me to define the meaning of diffusion and osmosis, I just said that I did not know. However, once you understand what they mean, this topic gets a lot more easier.

This is an example of osmosis, a special kind of diffusion

Separation Techniques

There are many different separation techniques and they include simple distillation, fractional distillation, evaporation, filtration, magnetic separation, heating, passing an electric curremt and chromatography. Those were the separation techniques taught to us but as for others, they were not taught yet and so I cannot really name them.
This is linked to mixtures and compounds but is basically purely focusing on how to separate them. Physical methods are for mixtures while chemical methods are for compounds. However, we only focused on physical methods in class and practicals.

This is an example of fractional distillation

Solution and Suspension

A solution is a mixture where one or more solutes dissolve in a solvent. A suspensions is a mixture where solid or liquid particles are suspended in a liquid or gas
Well, I suppose the biggest takeaway I got from this topic was probably that Milo is not a solution but a suspension. However, I wonder, if Milo is a suspension, then why do we need to use hot water to make sure that all the powder "dissolves"?

Elements, Compounds and Mixtures

Elements are the simplest form of matter and cannot be broken down into simpler substances. Compounds are different elements combined in a definite proportion by mass. Mixtures are different elements mixed in any fixed proportion.
I know that was a boring explanation but what else can I say. I cannot for some reason, understand the table of elements but somehow, I think that this topic is really interesting. I cannot really explain it but I really had more fun in lessons of elements that other topics.

This is the periofic table of elements

Density & Kinetic Particle theory

Not much to say about these two really, that's why I put them together. Density is mass/volume, however, this topic is not easy as the questions they come up with in the tests are very tricky. As for the kinetic particular theory, it basically means that all matter are made up of atoms and are in continuous, random motion but the inter-molecular forces hold the atoms together. Also, these inter-molecular forces are strongest in the solid state, weaker in the liquid state and weakest in the gaseous state.
I like kinetic particle theory the most as it is the the easiest but density is especially hard for me. This is because it is a seemingly easy topic but I somehow cannot solve the questions in the test paper.

Measurements and Units

This topic is mainly about understanding the different instruments of measurements, the exact method of measurement and the standard units from which all the other units are derived. An example would be Kelvin for temperature and meter for length. We also learn to give our answers up to a certain number of significant figures as sometimes, too many digits are redundant and serve only to confuse us.
This topic is interesting but I do not personally feel that this subject is that important as it is somewhat like Mathematics. Furthermore, the story of the standard units is interesting but I do not see why we must really learn any of this since we will most probably get it in time.

Science as an inquiry

This topic is mainly about understanding the uses different types apparatus, how exactly to use a Bunsen burner, the steps to conduct a proper scientific experiment, the mentality that a scientist should have, the lab safety rules and the meanings of certain safety symbols such as this one

I think this topic is actually the most useful, although many will disagree as this topic really has not much "knowledge" that we have to be aware of. However, it teaches you exactly what science is about and teaches you all the basics. Some may say that these are unnecessary but this is extremely important for aspiring scientists and furthermore, would it not be embarrassing in a test if we did not even know what a crucible was or what it does

Introduction addition

Sorry, I believe I have forgotten to add that I am supposed to reflect on what I have learnt in class. Although it might be preferred for me to do it based on the different terms, I have decided to do it based on subject

Introduction

Hi, my name is Oh Jianyong and I am from Singapore. I am thirteen years old and go to Hwa Chong Institution. The class I am in is class 1I3 and this is my Science E-Portfolio where I am supposed to reflect about what I have learnt in my first, second and third term in school. I will most probably be analyzing some not so special science issues such as global warming but if I find some interesting article, you can be sure I will reflect on it too